Hay cutting device



E. w. BALDWIN 2,521,323

HAY CUTTING DEVICE Sept. 5, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 13, 1949 112011 JJZ v INVEN TOR. .FA/Wfl? 14 .5194 p rw/v P 1950 i E. w. BALDWIN2,521,323

HAY CUTTING DEVICE Filed May 15,1949 3 Sheets-Sheet s FIG--4- 19 3 I E+T I97 INVENTOR.

.54 NEH M564 0 W/A/ Patented Sept. 5, 1950 UNITED STAT ES PATENT OFFICEHAY CUTTING DEVICE Elmer. W. Baldwin, Ba'ssett, Nebr. Application May13, 1949, sci-m1 No.9ao94 S'CIaim's. (o1. 146-'137) This inventionrelates to apparatus for han dling and cutting hay, deriving its powerfrom a tractor or the like, and particularly to a powered hay cuttingdevice.

The main object of my invention is to provide means capable of receivinga load of hay to be cut and cutting the same into lengths or portions ofdesired size to facilitate subsequent handling of the hay, especially atfeeding time.

Another object is to provide a tractor-drawn hay carrier or truck withmeans for feeding or shifting the hay load periodically toward a cutting position and preventing undesired return movement or backlash ofthe hay during thecutting operation.

A further object is to support the hay on such a carrier with atransversely-disposed cutting member operating from above downward, orvice versa, at the rear of the carrier.

It is also an object to suspend and operate a cutting member between apair of downwardlyswinging booms which serve to ballast the cuttingmember and contribute to the effectiveness of the latter duringoperation.

A'practical object is, of course, to have a haycutting device asindicated which is simple to operate and effective in use, and capableof be ing transported to any site for operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in furtherdetail as the specification proceeds.

In order to facilitate ready comprehension of this invention for aproper appreciation of the salient features thereof, the invention isillustrated on the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, and inwhich:

Figure 1 is a top or plan view of a tractorpowered, hay-cutting devicemade according to the invention and embodying the same in a practicalform;

Figure 8 is an'enlarged fragmentary perspective showing detail of theparts uppermost in Figure 6; I

Figure 9 is a fragmentary enlarged section taken on line 9-9 in Figure1.

Throughout the views, the same reference numerals indicate the same orlike parts.

On farms and larger estates where hay is har vested and thereafter usedfor feeding horses and cattle, it is often a matterof guesswork toapportion a proper amount of hay to each animal without too greatvariation, and the normally long condition of hay increases thedifiiculty of properly distributing for feeding purposes. The length ofthe hay also impedes appropriation thereof by the animals in economicalmanner,

nothing practical has been generally adopted for .Figure 2 is a sideelevation of the samehay" cutting device as seen from below'in Fig-urel';

Figure 3 is a front elevation ofv the same haycutting device as seenfrom the left in Figure 2; Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse sectiontaken on line 4'-4 in Figure 1';

Figure his a top or plan view similar to that plan view 1 65 a,nel'members 16 to channel members i'l, while this'purpose. I

Upon considering this problem, it has occurred to me that atractor-drawn, hay-carrying vehicle could well be equipped with meansdriven from the tractor for cutting a load of hay thereon into desiredportions or lengths facilitating handling of the hay for all purposesthereafter. As a result of such consideration, I have succeeded inproducing a hay-cutting device which will now be more fully described. 3

Hence, in the practice of my invention, and referring again to thedrawings, a trailer truck forming a hay carrier, generally indicated atit, primarily includes a substantially rectangular frame forming aplatform built up from a plurality of channel irons. Thus, a pairo'flon'gitudinal channel members H and 52 form the extrem'e sides of theframe and connected thereto at the ends thereof are a pair of front andrear channel members I 3 and I4. Transversely disposed between the sideframe members H and 12 are a group of further channel members l5, l6, Hand I8 spaced apart and substantially parallel with the front and rearchannel members l3 and I4. Intermediate the side channel members II andI2 are further channel members i9 and 20 which extend from the forwardchannel member 13 'to' one of the intermediate channel irons IS; inupwardly-inclined position and rearwardly of the higher rear ends of theupwardly inclined members-E9 and 2!! are a pair of relatively short,horizontal race channel members .2'! and .22 which extend from thetransverse chan- 3 rearwardly of the latter the mentioned channelmembers slope downwardly again at 23, 24 to the level of the sidechannel irons II and I2 and transverse channel member I8, from which thementioned channel members continue horizontally at 25, 26 fromtransverse channel I8 to the rear channel member I4. As best seen inFigure 2, the raised horizontal portions 2I and 22 of the channelmembers just described are supported at both ends by upright supports 42and 43, while, as may be seen in Figure l, the frame or platformframework thus far described is covered from the side channels HI and I2to the intermediate channel members I9, M, 23 and 25 on one side, and22, 24 and 26 on the other side by sheet metal platform members 21, 28,29, 30, 3] and 32, among which the forward portions 21 and 36 areinclined upwardly, the sections 28 and SI being at a higher level andsubstantially horizontal, while the rear plate por- I tions 29 and 32are inclined downwardly from the raised portions 28 and 3|.

Intermediate the higher channel members 2I and 22 and the transversechannel members I6 and H are mounted two pairs of tire-equipped wheels33 and 34 on an axle 35 secured beneath a pair of short frame members 36and 31 secured between transverse channel members It and I1, the natureof the axle and the wheels being so conventional as not to form any partof the invention as such, and therefore superfluous to illustrate indetail. Extending longitudinally betweenside channel irons I I and I2and the intermediate channel members I9, 2 I, 23 and on one side, and29, 22, 24 and 25 on the other side are a pair of elongated reinforcingmembers 38, 39 extending from the front channel member I3 to therearward transverse channel member I8 and in the intermediate section ofthe frame extending from forward channel member I5 to the rear channelmember I4 is a further pair of elongated reinforcing members 40 and Mdisposed between the wheels 33, 34 and the short channel members 38 and31, and contributing to the mounting of axle 35. The raised sheet metalportions 28 and 3| mounted upon the channel members 2| and 22 serve toconceal the wheels 33 and 34, while intermediate the wheels asubstantially flat elongated sheet metal member 44 extends from frontchannel member l3 substantially to the rear channel member I8 andbeneath the rearwardly-inclined sheet metal portions 29 and 32 thismember widens at 45, 46 toward the inclined channel members 23 and 24.The forward end of the mentioned sheet metal plate 44 is supported by anintermediate short channel member 47! extending from the front channelmember I3 to the second member I5 and spaced within the same on theframe. All of the frame members, such as the channel reinforcing membersand the like, may be welded, brazed or riveted together so that a strongand dependable frame results.

Upon the side sections of the frame thus far described are a pair oflong metal sheets 49 and 49 secured upon the side channels I I and I2and the portions of front and rear channels I3 and I4 and theintermediate channels I5, I5, I1 and I8 at the sides of the raisedchannel portions I9, 2 I, 23 and 25 on the one side and 29, 22, 24 and26 on the other, the two sheets 48 and 49 being provided withlongitudinally-arranged and spaced slats or ribs 59, 50 to facilitaterearward movement of hay on the resulting platform of the carrier. Tofinish off the rear, a transverse sheet metal plate 5| extends from sidechannel II to side channel I2 and forwardly so as to meet and evenoverlap slightly the rear ends of the sheets 44, 48 and 49. The rearcorners are further reinforced by a pair of short frame members 52 and53 spaced between side channels I I and I2 and the intermediate rearchannel members 25 and 25 and secured at the ends thereof to the tworear channels I4 and I8. The carrier platform and body thus fardescribed need not be constructed in detail as already outlined, butcan, of course, be varied, inasmuch as it merely forms a support for theoperating parts now to be described.

Upon the front end of the frame and particularly channel member I3, issecured a forwardlyextending frame 54 having the ends 55 and 55 thereofdirected rearwardly and secured to the mentioned from channel member bywelding brazing or riveting. Upon the inner sides of end frame members55 and 55 are fixed a pair of pulley yokes 5! and 53 in which arerotatably mounted a pair of grooved pulleys 59 and B0 rotatable uponsubstantially vertical axes. As best seen in Figure 3, it may be notedthat upon the ends 55 and 56 are mounted further pulley yokes 6| and 62directly beneath the previously-mentioned pulley yokes 5! and 58 and inwhich are rotatably mounted further grooved pulleys 53 and 64.Intermediate the ends 55 and 55 of the projecing frame 54 is mounted areel 55 on a shaft 66, as best seen in Figures 3 and 4, this shaft beingrotatably mounted in the central portion of the front frame 54 and frontchannel member I3 and provided with a gear 51 by which it is driven in amanner which will presently be explained. Rearwardly in line with theouter sides of pulleys 59, 55, 63, 54 are mounted a pair of rearpulleys, best seen in Figures 1 and 2 in bearings or supporting bracketsI9 and II with horizontal pivot shafts I2 and I3, as best seen in Figure5.

Over the rear pulleys 68 and G9 are passed a pair of forwardly-extendingcables E4 and I5 secured to anchoring eyes I9 and fl at the forward endsthereof, these eyes being secured to a pair of rings or collars l8 andI9 mounted upon an intermediate transverse bar 89 resting slidably uponthe upwardly-inclined sheet metal plates 21 and 39 of the carrier I9.The mentioned transverse bar 89 has axially-extending, reduced portions8| and 32 extending over the side plates 48 and 49 so that the totallength of the transverse bar and its extensions BI and 82 is very nearlythat of the width of the platform formed by the entire frame of the haycarrier and serves as a hay feeder for shifting the hay load rearwardlyfor the cutting operation which will be described later on. Upon thepreviously-mentioned rings or collars I8 and I9 on feed bar 80 are fixeda pair of forwardly-directed eyes 83 and 84 through which a pair offorwardly-extending cables 85 and 86 are connected, these cables passingover the forwardly-located upper grooved pulleys 59 and 50, and from thelatter pulleys extend to the reel or winch 55 upon which they are wound.At the same time, the rearwardly-extending cables I4 and I5 which passover rear pulleys 69 and 69 beneath the latter extend forwardly to thelower pulleys 63 and 64 and from the latter also extend inwardly at theforward end of the apparatus to the same winch or reel 55 upon whichthese cables are wound.

The arrangement is such that if reel 65 is rotated by any means in onedirection so as to wind up the upper forward cables 85, 86simultaneously unwind the lower cables I4 and 15, the feed bar 80 willbe shifted forwardly down the inclined plates 21 and 30. IfZ- on theother hand,- reel 65 is rotated clockwise in'a'dlrection to wind up thelower cables 14- and 15 and simultaneously unwind cables 05 and 86, thetransverse feed bar 80 will-be shifted upwardly along the inclinedportions 21 and so of the platform.- Normallmthe feed bar 80 serves toengage against the lower portion of a hay load indicated at 88 restingon the platform, and obviously such feeding movement of bar 80 is notcontinuous ordinarily, but caused to be intermittent according to therequirement for shifting the load with respect to a rearwardly-disposedcutter yet to be described.

At the forward corners of the frame or platform are fixed a pair ofupright lugs 89, and 90, and a short distance inwardly upon the platformwithin the mentioned lugs are fixed a pair of further corresponding lugs91' and 92, the lugs being arranged in pairs with the first-mentionedlugs 89 and 90. lhe two lugs 89 and SI form bearings for the shaft 93extending therethrough, while the other lugs 90 and 92 in a similar fashion support a shaft 94. Upon the shafts 93- and 94 are mounted a pairofsleeves 95 and 96; secured by pins 91 and 98,. as best seen in Figure 4;so that shafts 93 and 94 are substantially rigid with the sleeves 95 and96 and rotate therewith in the supporting lugs supporting the shafts.Upon the mentioned sleeves 95 and 96 are secured by welding or brazing apair of long booms 99 and I adjacent the outer ends of the sleevesimmediately within lugs 89 and 90, while upon the same sleeves are fixedat the other ends thereof'a pair of inclined stays or braces WI and, I02which at the other ends thereof are brazed or welded to the oppositefacing sides of booms 99 and I00, so that the latter are thus rigidlyfixed to the sleeves 95 and 96 and swingable therewith upon'shafts 93and 94, with the lugs just described pivotally supporting the boomswhich are of sufiicient length to reach substantially to the rear end ofthe side channels I I and I2 when lowered upon the latter. The mentionedbooms are preferably tubular in form and, at the rear free ends thereofa pair of tubular extensions I03 and I04 are inserted and secured byrivets or transversepins I05 and I06, which in turn are prevented fromdropping out of position by cotter pins I01, all as best shown in Figure9'. The outer ends of extensions I03 and I04 are offset at I08 and I09so as to separate them further in the outward direction, while upontheir inner opposite sides they are provided with lugs II I pivotallysupporting a pair of grooved pulleys or rollers H2 and H3 over which apair of cables H4 and 1151 are passed, while to the ends of these cablesbetween pulleys H2 and H3 a barbed wire, thin wire saw or saw blade H6is connected in tense condition. Before proceeding to note further theoperation as well as the mounting of the saw blade or wire I I6, it isto be noted that inasmuch as. the two booms 99 and I00 are obviouslyunder considerable inward strain tending to draw the free ends thereoftogether, they are further reinforced in addition to the provision-ofbraces IOI and 102. Thus, adjacent to the outer end of boom 99 is aU-shaped yoke I I1 welded or brazed thereto and similarly the other boomI00 has a corresponding yoke i I8 secured thereto, and to these yokesare brazed or welded rearwardly and outwardly-extending truss rods H9and I20, which extend forwardly and upon the intermediateportions of theouter sides of the booms are extended by a pair ofoppositely-outwardlyprojecting spaced posts-I21 and I'Hoir one side anditdyand li' fon the other side, beyond which rods H9 enema are inclinedinwardly again toward the booms and secured thereto adjacent to thesleeves 95 and 95- to which the booths are secured at the forward endthereof, by brazing or welding the rods to the booms. Thus, the latterwill resist inward stresses occasioned by'the tension of saw wire IIGUpon the forward ends of the booms and upon sleeves and 96 areseour'edj' pulle y brackets I25 and I26 in which are pivotallymountedapair of grooved pulleys I21 and 1-28 to which the previously-mentionedcables llm and- II5 extend forwardly from the rear pulleys' III-and donthe free ends of the booms. From the last-mentioned forwardly-locatedpul l'eys'IilI and I28 the cables H4 and H5 are brought inwardly towardeach other, and as best seenin Figure 8, are passed over a pair offurther pulleys I29 and I30 pivotally mounted between a airof-bars f3!and I32 secured together by an intermediate block I33 and togethersecured as a unit to: the lower'end of a rocker arm I34. This rocker armis pendently supported upona pivot pin I35 secured 'toan uppercross-piece I36 sup ported inelevated position by three spaced postsI31, I38, I39-fixed upon the front channel menuber' I3 of the platform.Above the pivot mount in I35 rocker arm I34 is formed into arearwardly-extending lug Mil through which a verti cal adjustingscrew I4Iextends sli-dably with the upper threaded end of the screw engaged by anadjusting nut it provided with a crank I42 for rotating the nut andthereby adjusting the screw upordown in ledge or lug M9. Thepreviouslymentioned cab les H4 and H5 are brought up past pulleys I29and I30 at the lower end of rocker arm. I35 through a cable-clipI43'secure'd upon an intermediate portion thereof, and past this clip toform a loop'I44 engaging with a hook I45 formed upon thej'lower end ofadjustingscrew NH. The arrangement is such that by adjusting the screwup or downby way of crank'lfl, the cables II 4 and ;II5" may be slackedor tightened in such fashion as jto increase or decrease the tensionupon the transversely-disposed rear cutting wire IIIisuspendedbetweenpulleys H2 and II 31 at the rear ends ofthe boom members99 and I00.

The purpose of rocker arm I34 is to provide sawing motion to thecuttingwire [It by pulling first upon one cable H4 and then upon theother, and correspondingly letting out the other cable so that thecutting wire I I6 will ride back and forth transversely of the rear endof the platform and thus saw its way down through the hay load 88 fromthe raised position shown in Figure 2, or it the booms are disposed intheir lowest position alongside side frame channels II' and I2, bysawing its way up through the same load,thereby cutting off a length ofthe hay pile which will drop behind the'platforin on the ground or uponsome surface rearwardly of the carrier intended to receive the hay thusout. --In orderto oscillate the rocker arm I34 upon its pivot mountingI35, the arm is provided a short distance above the lower end thereofwith a lug I46 to which is pivotally connected a link or pitman I41 by apivot pin I48, while at the other end the link is connected at I49 witha crank I50 fixed upon a shaft I5I rotatably. mounted in a bearing I52upon the upper end of a post I53 secured upon the front end I 3 of thecarrier by means. of bolts I54. A second' :bearingi -for the mentionedshaft I5I- is shown: mounted in Figures 1. and 6 on the front frame 54ati .Il55,rthe. beari-ng I56 supporting shaft I5I being supported on theupwardly-extending supporting plate I51 fixed on the base I55.Intermediate the bearingsv I53 and I56 and adjacent to the front journalI3, shaft I5I is provided with a double-grooved pulley I58 connected bybelts I59 to a relatively smaller driving pulley I60 fixed on a powertake-E shaft I6I extending forwardly from a gear box I62 supportedimmediately within and partly below front channel member I3 by means ofa pair of brackets I65 secured to the top of gear box I62 and to thecentral channel member 41 intermediate transverse channels I3 and I5, asbest seen in Figure 5. While on the subject of the take-off shaft I6I,which is adapted to be connected to a, tractor furnishing the power tothe apparatus, the tractor is for this purpose also mechanicallyconnected to carrier II) by means of a draw bar yoke including memberssecured to arms I64, I64 converging forwardly and being attached to thetractor, while rearwardly their diverging ends are connected by rivetsor pivot pins I65, I65 to angle plates I66, I66 which in turn aresecured to the transverse channel member I5 Within the front portion ofthe carrier. The arrangement is such that when the engine of the tractoris operating, and assuming that the power take-off shaft I6I isconnected to the power drive of the tractor, pulley I60 will be rotated,which also results in rotation of pulley I58 through belts I59, I59. Theimmediate result is that shaft I5I is rotated with its rear crank I50,whereby the pitman or link I 41 is oscillated from side to side, and asthe latter is connected to the lower end of rocker arm I34, the latterwill rock from side to side like a pendulum from its upper pivotalmounting I85, drawing cables H4 and H5 alternatively in such fashionthat pulleys I21 and H2 on one side and I28 and H3 on the other sidethrough yokes H1 and H8 as to oscillate cutting Wire II6 along its ownlength transversely of the rear end of the hay carrier. It is to benoted that such oscillation of the cutting wire I I6 will occur in anyposition of the booms 99 and I00, the cutting wire H6 being raised orlowered upon the booms through an are centered about the axes of shafts93'and 94 atthe front of the carrier. When the cutting operation isdone, the cutting movement or'oscillation of the cutting wire H6 maycontinue indefinitely, as it is innocuous and does not interfere withany other operation intended to be performed by the apparatus before orafter the cutting is done, and this is especially true when the boomsare in their lowered position substantially parallel to the sidechannels II and I2.

In order to promote a proper sawing operation upon the hay load 88, bothin the upward, as well as the downward direction, certain additionalmeans are included for raising and lowering the booms, the latter havinga, pair of attachment yokes I61-and I68.v To these loops or eyes I61 andI68 are attached Ia, pair of elevating cables I 69 and I10. At the otherends the cable lengths I69 and I10 are connected to a, pair of rings orloops Ill and I12 upon the upper ends of a pair of swingable supportsI13 and I14 which are pivoted upon the carrier 'iat the sidesby means ofpivot pins I15; and I16 extending through'lugs I11 and I18 'on thecarrier, only pivot pin I15 and lug I11 being claimed and shown, Figure2. Upon the upper ends of the mentioned rocking supports I13 am-1.11.4 apair'of. further .ringsor loops I19 and I80 areeattachedfacing thetrailer 8 front, and which in turn are attached to upper hooks, I8I andI82 one pair of pulley blocks I83 and I84. At the forward corners of thecarrier a pair of cables I85 ;and I66 are anchored beneath the frontchannel me mber I3 and secured theretoby fasteners or knots on thecables extending through holes I81 and I88, these cables extendingupwardly through blocks I83 and I84 and then downwardly again through apair of further blocks I89and I90 attached in association with sleevesand 96. From the latter blocks which are secured at the forward end uponthe carrier, as intimated, cables I85 and I86 extend inwardly generallytoward each other and are wound upon a pairv of individual reels I9I andI92 fixed upona shaft I93 upon opposite sides of a bearing I94 rotatablysupporting the shaft and secured by bolts or screws I95 upon frontchannel member I3. The arrangement is such that if any means serves torotatev shaft I93 with its reels I9I and I92 in counter-clockwisedirection, both cables I85 and I86 will begin to be wound up on thereels and will forcethe supports I13 and I14 to rock forwardly and bringwith them cable lengths I69 and I10, thereby raising the booms 99 andI901 When rotation occurs in the opposite direction, that is,.clockwise,the reels I9I and I92 will unreel the cables I85 and I86 and allow thebooms 99 and I00 to lower about their centers 93 and 94 by gravity untilthey finally reach the side channels I land I2. In order to ensure thatshaft I 93 will rotate properly, a forward bearing I96 supports theforward end and is mounted upon a post I91 secured upon front channelI3. For the purpose of rotating the shaft I93 and reels I9I and I92, thefirst-mentioned reel is provided at one end with a clutch disc I98,while upon shaft I93 between bearings I96 and I 96 is rotatably mounteda clutch sleeve I99 upon one end of which is fixed a second clutch disc200 capable of engaging frictionally against disc I98, while upon theother end of the sleeve is a grooved collar 20I having a groove 202therein. A clutch fork 203 engages in groove 202 of collar 20I and ispivotally mounted" bearings 264' and 205 in connection' with front frame54, while the shaft 2060f the clutch fork is provided with amanually-operated lever 291 by which it is possible to shift sleeve I99along shaft I93 in order to move disc 280 against disc I98 or remove itfrom contact therewith. I

Upon sleeve I99 adjacent to the clutch disc 200 is, fixed a sprocket 208connected by a chain 209 to is, relatively smaller driving sprocket 2I0on shaft I5I, which also carries pulley I58 and is driven from powertake-off shaft I6I. Thus, if manual lever 281, on shaft 206 with tensionspring 2H connected thereto and rearwardly at the rear end thereof tofront channel I3 is pulled forwardly, fork 203 cooperating with groove202 in shifting collar 20 Iv will shift sleeve I99 with its dis-c 268 inthe forward direction away from disc I98 and reels I9I and I92 willremain stationary provided thatthe booms I99 and I00 either are down intheir lowest position or are supported upon the hay load 88 by thetransversely-disposed cutting wire H6. If power take-off shaft I6I isrotated by connection to the tractor which causes operation of pulleysI60 and I58, crank I50 will be rotated and through link or pitman l41will rock 'pendently-pivoted arm I34 and thereby cause the cuttingtorsawing .wire H6 to move alternately-from side-to sideand thereby cut itsWay downithrough the hay 88 by the weight of booms'99 and I00. With thediscs I98 and 200 out of contact, such movement easily occursas reels HHand I92 'arethen free to be rotated clockwise by simultaneous pull oncables I05" and I86 connected to supports I13 and through cable lengthsI09 and H to the upper ends of both booms. On the other hand, when lever20! is pushed rearwardly, clutch fork 203 engaging in groove 202 ofcollar Z JI will shift sleeve I99 rearwardly and bring clutch disc 200intoeffective contact with disc I98 fixed on shaft I93 and will therebyrotate the latter and the reels I91 and I 92, causing them to rotate ina counterclockwise direction and thereby reel up part of cables I85 andI85 and thereby lift the booms. If both booms are started at theirlowest position substantially parallel to the lowest portion of theplatform, that is, to the side channels II and I2, and the handle orlever 2511 is pushed just enough to cause a gradual slippingtransmission of power from disc 209 to disc I98, the reeling upof'cables I85 and I06 will proceed slowly enough to allow the cuttingwire II 0 to saw its way upward through the hay load 88 until the boomsreach the topof the pile, when lever 207 may again be swung outwardly todisengage the clutch. One cf the two clutch discs, such as disc 200, mayhave brake lining of leather or any other frictional material, such asplastic or fabric or the like, 222, cemented or riveted thereto in orderto provide ample friction against the face of the other disc, if sodesired.

In order to hold the clutch normally in neutral position when cuttingthe hay from the top down by means of cutting wire or saw 6, aforwardly-extending stop 2I2 is fixed on front channel I3 and providedwith a shoulder or recess 2I3- serving to hold lever 20! in forwardposition. When booms 99 and I00 are being raised, the tension spring inexerting tension on lever 20'Itends to hold clutch discs I90 and 200together, the spring being originally adjusted to allow just the rightamount of slippage between the discs to provide the proper pressurerequired on cutting wire or tension saw |I6 when the same is cutting inthe upward direction.

Returning to the gear box I62 beneath the front end of the carrier,power take-off shaft I6! within the same is provided with appropriategearing connected to or meshing with further gearing in such fashion asto rotate a transverse shaft 2M extending from the side of gear box I62into a second gear box 2l5 secured in a similar fashion to gear box I62by means of brackets 2I6 which in turn may either be continuations ofthe previously-mentioned brackets I63 or independently secured to thecenter channel member 41. Gear box 2I5' preferably contains' a worm 2I'Ion the end of the shaft 2I i engaging a worm gear 2| 8 and a rotatablearid forwardly-extending shaft 2I9 upon the front end of which is fixedapinion 220 meshing with previously-mentioned or described gear 61associated with reel or winch 65.

The arrangement is such that assuming that the power take-off shaft iscoupled to the drive of the tractor connected by drawbar members I64 tothe carrier I0, rotation of the: shaft will cause simultaneous rotationof shaft II through belt I59,- rotating crank I50, and therebyswingingro'cker arm I34 and causing oscillation of cutting or sawingwire H6 at the rearand betweenbooms 90 and I00. If the latter are in thelowest position, which they will be after each downward cutby gravity,swinging handle or 10 lever 20! rearwardly in the direction of tensionspring '2 assisting such movement, clutch fork 203 will shift collar 20land thereby sleeve I99 and its clutch disc 200 with its leather facing202 rearwardly' against r'eel disc I98 and according to the pressureapplied to lever 201, the reels I91 and I92 will be rotated slowly orrapidly with consequent gradual. raising of booms 99 and. I00 andupwardcutting of cutting or sawing wire H6 through the hay pile 88.Inasmuch as the gear ing' within gear box I62 also communicates rotationthrough shaft 2I4' between the boxes to gear box 2I'5 and therebythrough shaft 2I9 to pinion 220, the latter in meshing with gear 6! willrotate reel 65 and cause gradual travel of transverse feed bar 8011palong the incline formed by plates 21 and and also along the upperplates 28 and BI and will thereby feed the hay pile 88 rear wardlytoward the cutting wire II6. If required, some manual control for thetransmission in gear boxes I62 and 2I 5' may be provided to interruptoperation so that feed bar may remainsta: tionary' at various spacedpositions along the carrier, if so desired.

From the foregoing, it is evident that so long as power drive issupplied by a tractor to which the apparatus is attached as a trailer,any amount of hay may be cut upwardly and downwardly with considerableoutput of cut hay without much manual exertion. The portions cut will besuitable portions to be fed to horses and cattle and will facilitatehandling the hay both by persons feeding the animals and by the animalsthemselves to appropriate the benefit of the hay for feeding purposes.

Manifestly, variations maybe resorted to and parts and features may bemodified or used with out others within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having now fully described my invention, I claim;

l. A hay-cutting device including a platform, wheels supporting theplatform, means for connecting the platform to a tractor as a trailerthereto, a power-take-off shaft rotatably mounted on' the platform andadapted to be driven from said tractor, a pair of rearwardlydirectedside booms spaced apart and pivotally mounted at two forward portions onsaid platform, a pair of upwardly-directed supports pivotally mounted onthe platform at the lower ends thereof rearwardly of the pivot mountingsof theside booms, a pair of cables connecting the upper ends of thesupports to the booms adjacent to the rear ends thereof, a pair ofpulleys rotatably mounted upon the rear ends of the booms,- a furtherpair ofpulleys rotatably mounted adjacent to the forward pivoted endsthereof,.- a pair of operating. cables extending from one pulley to theother individually on both booms, a tensionsaw connected to the ends ofboth operating cables between the one or first pair of pulleys at therear ends of said booms,.means driven from the power take-off shaftconnected to the other ends of the operating cables for drawing themalternately in opposite directions and thereby oscillating the tensionsaw along its length transversely of said booms, reel means rotatablymounted on the forward portions of the platform, elevating" cablesconnected to the upper ends of. both supportsand' partly coiled on thereel means, means for communicating rotation to said reel means at willfrom said power take-off shaft for rotating said reel means inonedirectionto wind up said elevating cables thereon and thereby raise saidbooms; a transverse feed bar on said plat form, and means for movingsaid feed barrearwardly on the latter to feed a hay load rearwardlytoward the cutting wire on said booms.

2. A hay-cutting device including a platform, wheels supporting theplatform, means for connecting the platform to a tractor as a trailerthereto, a power take-off" shaft rotatably mounted on the platform andadapted to be driven from said tractor, a pair of rearwardly-directedside booms spaced apart and pivotally mounted at two forward positionson said platform, a pair of upwardly-directed supports pivotally mountedon the platform at the lower ends thereof rearwardly of the pivotmountings of the side booms, a pair of cables conn'ectingthe upper endsof the supports to the booms adjacent to the rear ends thereof, a pairof pulleys rotatably mounted upon the rear ends of the booms,'a furtherpair of pulleys rotatably mounted adjacent to the forward pivoted endsthereof, a pair of operating cables extending from one pulley to theother individually on both booms, a tension saw connected to the ends ofboth operating cables between the one or first pair of pulleys at therear ends of said booms, a rocker arm pivotally mounted upon a forwardportion of said platform and connected at the free oscillating ndthereof to said operating cables for driving them alternately inopposite directions and thereby oscillating the tension saw along itslength transversely of said booms, a crankshaft rotatably mounted on theforward portion of said platform and having a crank on one end thereof,a link pivotally connected at one end thereof to the rocker arm and atthe other end to said crank, means on said power take-off shaft fordriving said crankshaft, reel means rotatably mountedonthe forwardportions of the platform, elevating cablesconnected to the upper ends ofboth supports and partly coiled on the reel means, means forcommunicating rotation to said reel means at will from said powertake-off shaft for rotating said reel means in one direction to wind upsaid elevating cables thereon and thereby raise said booms, a transversefeed bar on said platform, and means for moving said feed bar rearwardlyon the latter to feed a hay load rearwardly toward the cutting wire onsaid booms.

3. A hay-cutting device including a platform,

the supports to the booms adjacent to the rear ends thereof, a pair ofpulleys rotatably mounted upon the rear ends of the booms, a furtherpair of pulleys rotatably mounted adjacent to the forward pivoted endsthereof, a pair of operating cables extending from one pulley to theother individually on both booms, a tension saw connected to the ends ofboth operating cables between the one or first pair of pulleys at therear ends of said booms, means driven from the power take-off shaftconnected to the other ends of the operating cables for drawing themalternately in opposite directions and. thereby oscillating the tensionsaw along its length transversely of said booms, a reel shaft rotatablymounted on said platform, a pair of reels fixed on the reel shaft, aclutch member on said reel shaft, a pair of elevating cables fixed atone end of each to the platform, a pair of pulleys individuallyconnected to the upper ends of said supports, the elevating cablesextending up over and forwardly again from the latter pulleys, a pair ofadditional pulleys rotatably mounted at the forward pivoted ends of saidbooms with the elevating cables extending thereover and being directedinwardly toward each other and partly wound up on said reels, a secondclutch member rotatably mounted adjacent to the firstmentioned clutchmember, a manually-operated lever having means connected thereto forbringing the clutch members together or separating them at will, meansfor communicating rotation from the power take-off shaft to the secondclutch member, a transverse feed bar on said platform, and means formoving said feed bar rearwardly on the latter to feed the hay loadrearwardly toward the cutting wire on said booms.

4. A hay-cutting device including a platform, wheels supporting theplatform, means for connecting the platform to a tractor as a trailerthereto, a power take-ofi shaft rotatably mounted on the platform andadapted to be driven from said tractor, a pair of rearwardly-directedside booms spaced apart and pivotally mounted at two forward portions onsaid platform, a pair of upwardly-directed supports pivotally mounted onthe platform at the lower ends thereof rearwardly of the pivot mountingsof the side booms, a pair of cables connecting the upper ends of thesupports to the booms adjacent to the rear ends thereof, a pair ofpulleys rotatably mounted upon tween the one or first pair of pulleys atthe rear ends of said booms, an upright frame fixed on the forward endof the platform, a pendentoscillating rocker arm pivotally mountedadjacent the upper end thereof upon the latter frame, a pair of pulleysrotatably mounted at the lower end of the rocker arm, 3, lug on theupper end of the latter, a manually adjusted adjusting screw freelyextending downward through said lug andterminating in a hook at thelower end, the operating cables extending from the further pair ofpulleys on the booms to the pulleys on saidlrocker arm and over thelatter upwardly to form a loop engaging with the hook on said adjustingscrew, a crankshaft rotatably mounted on the forward portion of saidplatform and having a crank on one end thereof, a link pivotallyconnected at one end thereof to the rocker arm and at the other end tosaid crankymeans on said power'take-olf shaft for driving saidcrankshaft, reel mean's rotatably mounted on the forward portions of theplatform, elevating cables connected to the upper ends of both supportsand partly coiled" on'the reel means, means for communicating rotationto said reel means at Will'from said power take-off shaft for rotatingsaid reel means in one direction to wind up said elevating cablesthereon and thereby raise said booms, a transverse feed bar on saidplatform, and means for moving said feed bar rearwardly on the latter tofeed a hay load rearwardly toward the tension saw on said booms.

; A ha-y outting device ineludinga platform", wheels supporting theplatform, means for con meeting the platform tofa tractor as a trailerthereto, a power take-off shaft rotatably'mounted on the'platform andadapted to be driven from said tractor, a pair of rearwardly-directedside booms spaced apart'andpivotally mounted at two forward portions; onsaidplatform, a pair ofup-' wardly-directed supports pivotally mountedon theplatform at the lower ends thereof rearwardly of the-pivotmountings of the side booms, a pair of cables-connecting the upper endsof the supports to the booms adjacent to the rear ends thereof, a pairof pulleys rotatably mounted upon the rear ends of the booms, a furtherpair of pulleys rotatably mounted adjacent to the forward pivoted endsthereof, a pair of operating cables extending from one pulley to theother individually on both booms, a tensionsaw connected to the ends ofboth operating cables between the one or first pair of pulleys attherearends or saidbooms, means drivenfrom the power take-ofi shaft connectedto the other ends, of. the operating ends ofthe'operating' cables fordrawing them alternately in opposite directions and thereby oscillatingthe tension saw along its length transversely of said booms, reel meansrotatably mounted on the forward portions of the platform, elevatingcables connected to the upper ends of both supports and partly coiled onthe reel means, means for communicating rotation to said reel means atwill from said power take-off shaft for rotating said reel means in onedirection to wind up said elevating cables thereon and thereby raisingsaid booms, a transverse feed bar movable on said platform, a pair ofrear pulleys rotatably mounted rearwardly on said platform, the latterhaving apertures therein adjacent to the latter pulleys, a plurality ofpulleys rotatably mounted as upper and lower pairs at the forwardportion of said platform, a reel shaft having a reel fixed thereonrotatably mounted at the intermediate forward portion of said platform,a gear on said power take-off shaft, a pinion on the reel shaft meshingwith said gear, and a pair of feeding cables spaced apart and secured attwo points to the feed bar and therefrom extending rearwardly to andover the rear pulleys on saidplatform through the apertures in thelatter and thence forwardly to the lower pair of pulleys at the forwardend of said platform, the cables extending from said lower pair ofpulleys to said reel, one cable being looped about the same and from thelatter extending to and over one pulley of the upper pair with the othercable also being looped about said reel and from beneath the latterextending to and over the other pulley of said upper pair at saidforward end of said platform, and both cables finally extending from thelast-mentioned pulleys to said two points again on said feed bar.

6. A hay-cutting device including a platform, wheels supporting theplatform, means for connecting the platform to a tractor as a trailerthereto, a power take-off shaft rotatably mounted on the platform andadapted to be driven from said tractor, a pair of rearwardly-directedside booms spaced apart and pivotally mounted at two forward portions onsaid platform, a pair of upwardly-directed supports pivotally mounted onthe platform at the lower ends thereof rearwardly of the pivot mountingsof the side booms, a pair of cables connecting the upper ends of thesupports to the booms adjacent to the rear ends thereof, a pair ofpulleys rotatably mounted upon the rear' ends of the booms, a furtherpair of pulleys rotatably'mounted adjacent to the for ward pivoted endsthereof, a-pair of operating cables extending from one pulley to theother individually on both booms, a tension saw connected to the ends ofboth operating cables between the one or first pair of pulleys at therear ends of said booms, anupwardl-y-extending frame fixed on theforward end of the platform, a pendent oscillating rocker arm pivotallymounted adjacent'the upper end'thereof'upon the latter frame, a pair ofpulleys rotatably mounted at the lower'end of the rocker arm, a lug onthe upper end of'the latter, an adjusting screw freely extendingdownward through the lug and terminating in a hook at the lower end, amanually-operated crank having a threaded hole engaging said screw.above said, lug, the operating cables extending from the further pair ofpulleys on the booms to the pulleys on'said rocker arm and over thelatter upwardly to form a loop engaging with the hook on said adjustingscrew, a crankshaft rotablymounted on the forward portion of saidplatform and having a crank on one end thereof, a link pivotallyconnected at one end thereof to the rocker arm and at the other end tosaid crank, means on said power take-01f shaft for driving saidcrankshaft, a reel shaft rotatably mounted on said platform, a pair ofreels fixed on the reel shaft, a clutch member on said reel shaft, apair of elevating cables fixed at one end of each to the platform, apair of pulleys individually connected to the upper ends of saidsupports, the elevating cables extending up over and forwardly againfrom the latter pulleys, a pair of additional pulleys rotatably mountedat the forward pivoted ends of said booms with the elevating cablesextending thereover and being directed inwardly toward each other andpartly wound upon said reels, a second clutch member rotatably mountedadjacent to the first-mentioned clutch member, a manually-operated leverhaving means connected thereto for bringing the clutch members togetheror separating them at will, means for communicating rotation from thepower take-off shaft to the second clutch member, a transverse feed barmovable on said platform, a pair of rear pulleys rotatably mountedrearwardly on said platform, the latter having apertures thereinadjacent to the latter pulley, a plurality of pulleys rotatably mountedas upper and lower pairs at the forward portion of said platform, asecond reel shaft having a second reel fixed thereon rotatably mountedat the intermediate forward portion of said platform, a gear on saidpower take-off shaft, a pinion on the second reel shaft meshing withsaid gear, and a pair .of feeding cables spaced apart and secured at twopoints to the feed bar and therefrom extending rearwardly to and overthe rear pulleys on said platform through the apertures in the latterand thence forwardly to the lower pair of pulleys at the forward end ofsaid platform, the cables extending from said lower pair of pulleys tosaid second reel, one cable being looped about the same and from thelatter extending to and over one pulley of the upper pair at saidforward end of said platform, with the other cable also being loopedabout said second reel and from beneath the latter extending to and overthe other pulley of said upper pair, and both cables finally extendingfrom the last-mentioned pulleys to said two points again on said feedbar.

7. A hay-cutting device, including a platform, a power take-off meansoperably mounted on a portion of the platform and adapted to be drivenfrom a powered tractor, a pair of rearwardlydirected booms pivotallysupported at their forward ends on the platform, elevating means drivenfrom the power take-off means for raising both booms at will, means forreleasing the elevating means and allowing the booms to lower by gravityto the platform, a pair of saw mountings disposed individually on therear free ends of said booms, a tension saw mounted transversely of thelatter and extending between the two saw mountings, and saw-operatingmeans connected to the ends of said tension saw on said booms and drivenfrom said power take-01f to oscillate said tension saw transversely ofsaid booms.

8. A hay-cutting device, including a platform, a power take-01f meansoperably mounted on a portion of the platform and adapted to be drivenfrom a powered tractor, a pair of rearwardlydirected booms pivotallysupported at their forward ends on the platform, elevating means drivenfrom the power take-off means for raising both booms at will, means forreleasing the elevating means and allowing the booms to lower by gravityto the platform, a pair of saw mountings disposed individually on therear free ends of said booms, a tension saw mounted transversely of thelatter and extending between the two saw mountings, saw-operating meansconnected to the ends of said tension saw on said booms and driven fromsaid, power take-off to oscillate said tension saw transversely of saidbooms, a movable feeding member located on said platform, and meansdriven from said power take-off for moving said feeding memberrearwardly and feeding a hay load rearwardly to said tension saw.

ELMER W. BALDWIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,465,865 Pue et al. Aug. 21,1923 1,592,401 Walker July 13, 1926 2,284,919 Nielson June 2, 1942

